At Chalk Hill Estate Vineyards talking about the exciting Sonoma County Wine Celebration Weekend happening this Friday and Saturday, September 19-20, with the great Alexandra O’Gorman, of Foley Family Wines and Foley Food & Wine Society, who is receiving the special SCV 2025 Wine Business Leadership Award at our annual charity auction happening on Saturday, as well as recognition for the wonderful contributions FFWS has made to this auction, and all year long, that help make Sonoma County one the world’s greatest wine destinations!!!
For more information about attending one of the spectacular dinners happening on Friday night or bidding on the silent auction lots online, visit the Sonoma County Vintners website!
Category Archives: Charity
Coming Very Soon! SCWC Auction 2025
Get ready for the annual Sonoma County Wine Celebration! Culminating in the fantastic fundraising Live Auction, taking place on September 20th; festivities get rolling on Thursday, September 18th brought to you by SCVF.
Check out the detailed SCHEDULE here to plan ahead and come be a part of Sonoma County’s largest fundraising event–including activities at Bricoleur & Cline Family wineries: It has already supported more than 430 nonprofits in our community.
Get a PREVIEW of live auction lots for in-person or by-proxy bidding!


Festa Italia di Healdsburg-Sunday, August 17th

Join Orsi Family Vineyards for Festa Italia di Healdsburg, a one-day celebration of Italian grape varieties grown right here in California. In the heart of Dry Creek Valley, this event shines a spotlight on the incredible Italian varietal wines being produced by artisan winemakers across the state—many of which remain under the radar, even among seasoned wine lovers.
This is your chance to explore over 25 California wineries specializing in Italian grapes like Sangiovese, Barbera, Vermentino, and more. The day includes:

– A VIP tasting panel with leading Italian wine experts, led by Sommelier Christopher Sawyer
– A grand tasting featuring dozens of unique wines from top producers
– Local Italian food vendors and culinary talent serving authentic bites
– Italian-themed shopping, wine education, and community celebration
Get your TICKETS!
Proceeds benefit the Italian Catholic Federation – Healdsburg Branch, supporting the preservation and promotion of Italian heritage in our local community.
Fifty Shades of Pink – June 1st, Tasting & Fundraiser!
Get ready to sip, swirl, and celebrate –Fifty Shades of Pink is back—bigger, bolder, and bursting with flavor!
Join us Sunday June 1st, from 4–7 PM, at the beautiful Fort Lauderdale Woman’s Club (20 South Andrews Avenue Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301) for an unforgettable afternoon of Rosé, Red & White Wines, Tasty Bites, Music & Auction Festivities
As do all AFWC events, a charity benefits, this will benefit the Joel Feigenheiner Endowment Fund, which offers scholarships for students in need.
With hundreds of award winning wines to taste & some wineries pouring, local restaurants showcasing their creations, and a cause worth toasting, this is the summer kickoff you don’t want to miss – get your TICKETS while they last!

2025 Sonoma County Barrel Auction Raises Over $328,000!
Exciting news on the SoCoBA fundraising front! $328,000 in proceeds will assist in creating marketing programs and initiatives that support the Sonoma County wine trade and community. Presented by American AgCredit and hosted at the Landmark Vineyards Hop Kiln Estate on Friday, May 2, 2025. The auction featured 59 unique barrel lots ranging from 5 to 20 cases from 63 participating Sonoma County vintners.

Honorees this year included:
- Lifetime Achievement Award to David Hirsch, Founder of Hirsch Vineyards
- 2025 Sonoma County Icon Hank Wetzel, Founder and Family Partner at Alexander Valley Vineyards
- 2025 Sonoma County Innovators — David Stare, Founder of Dry Creek Vineyard; Kim Stare Wallace, President; and Don Wallace, Partner
The SoCoBA events kicked off with a tasting preview event on May 1 at Bacchus Landing, which offered trade buyers the opportunity to speak with the vintners, taste barrel samples and learn more about the auction lots before the live auction the following day. More epic auction info available HERE!
Save the date: SoCoBA planned for April 30 – May 1, 2026!

AFWC: The Results Are IN!
The American Fine Wine Competition Announces
Results from the 18th annual Judging
Where was Sawyer Somm in January? In Florida, judging at the American Fine Wine Competition! This invitation-only wine judging included 550 wines from 150 wineries vying for top honors. Hosted, once again, by the Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management at Florida International University in North Miami.
The 2025 Top Awards
BEST OF SHOW
Sparkling Wine
2017 Domaine Carneros Le Reve, Carneros ($125)
White Wine
2023 Castello di Amarosa Gewurztraminer Anderson Valley ($35)
Red Wine
2019 Talisman Pinot Noir Mystery Vineyard Sonoma Coast ($85)
Sweet White Wine
2023 Ferrante Winery Vidal Blanc Ice Wine Grand River Valley ($35)
Sweet Red Wine
Prager Winery & Port Works Noble Companion 10-Yr-Old Tawny, Napa ($85)
BEST OF CLASS
Sauvignon Blanc
2023 Barnett Vineyards Andrew’s Vineyard Dry Creek Valley ($35)
Chardonnay
2023 Mi Sueno Winery Estate Carneros, Napa ($75)
Other White Single Varietal
2023 Eastwood Farm & Winery Petit Masang, Monticello ($35)
Other White Blend
2023 Carol Shelton Coquille Blanc Paso Robles ($28)
Albarino
2023 Clearwater Canyon Crawford Vineyard Yakima ($22)
Riesling, Dry
2021 Brooks Lone Star Eola-Amity Hills ($35)
Riesling Off-dry
2022 Bel Lago Leelanau Peninsula ($18)
Gewurztraminer
2023 Castello di Amarosa Anderson Valley ($35)
Sweet White
2023 Ferrante Vidal Ica Wine Grand River Valley ($35)
Sweet Red
Prager Winery & Port Works Noble Companion 10-Yr old Tawny, Napa ($85)
Sparkling Wine
2017 Domaine Carneros “Le Reve” Carneros ($125)
Pinot Noir
2019 Talisman Wine Mystery Vineyard Sonoma Coast ($85)
Zinfandel
2021 Deerfield Ranch Sommer Ranch Vineyard Dry Creek Valley ($68)
Cabernet Franc
2022 Element 79 Vineyards Estate “Fair Play” ($45)
Merlot
2021 Robert Foley Vineyards Napa Valley ($80)
Syrah
2021 J. Lohr Vineyards “Gesture” Paso Robles ($45)
Petit Verdot
2022 J. Lohr Vineyards Home Ranch Paso Robles ($45)
Red Bordeaux-style Blend
2019 Peju Reserve Meritage Napa Valley ($175)
Cabernet Sauvignon
2021 ZD Wines Reserve Napa Valley ($175)
Other Red Single Varietal
2023 Cline Cellars Mourvèdre Small Berry Contra Costa County ($45)
Malbec
2021 Shadowbox McKenzie Mullen Vyd. Carneros, Napa ($65)
Petite Sirah
2022 V. Sattui Barrel Aged Napa ($52)
Sangiovese
2022 Eberle Paso Robles ($45)
Other Red Blend
2022 Bricoleur Vineyards “La Rumeur” Sonoma County ($65)

AFWC’s “One Thousand Bottles”: Sunday Jan 19th!

AFWC’s “One Thousand Bottles”: Sipping through America
Get your TICKETS! January 19, 2025 from 6:30-9:00 PM
FIU CHAPLIN SCHOOL OF HOSPITALITY ON THE PATIO (3000 NE 151st St, North Miami Beach, FL 33160)
This is the most exciting and exclusive wine tasting event of the year. More than 1,000 bottles of very special wines from the American Fine Wine Judging, The Invitational, are poured to our hundreds of wine-enthusiastic guests. It is a true Wine Extravaganza! SEE YOU THERE- CHRIS/SawyerSomm
Benefitting Charites are End Childhood Hunger and The Joel Feigenheimer Endowment Fund.

Legends: Next Gen @Sonoma County Wine Library – Nov 10th!
Meet The Future of Sonoma County Wine – Legends: Next Gen
After a three-year pause, the Sonoma County Wine Library is bringing back its Sonoma County Wine Legends event on Thursday, November 10th, 6:30 pm at the Steele Lane Community Center (415 Steele Ln) in Santa Rosa. (Photo credit Christopher Cheung/PD)
Moderated by Sommelier Christopher Sawyer, Legends: Next Gen will feature a panel discussion of these legends in the making, five next-generation professionals of the local wine community:
- Jamie Benziger, Winemaker, Imagery Wine Estates
- Drew Damskey, Winemaker/Consultant, Palmeri Wines
- Mari Jones, President, Emeritus Vineyards
- Shelly Rafanelli, Winemaker and Owner, A. Rafanelli Wines
- Alan Ramey, President, Ramey Wine Cellars
This fundraiser for the Sonoma County Wine Library includes wine pouring with charcuterie platter, and silent auction featuring special wines, gifts, and wine-country experiences. Early bird TICKETS are $45 for members and $60 for non-members, and $55 and $70 respectively after October 31st.


Chef Laura Pauli Shares The Love On THE VARIETAL SHOW!

THE VARIETAL SHOW has a great visit with one of our favorite chefs, Laura Pauli, fresh off her volunteer work in Ukraine. There she helped World Central Kitchen for a few months serving the citizens with love & dignity! She treats us to an 1875 Angelica Wine, and we also share some Cain Rose OTO & Cirq Pinot Noir.
LIKE, SHARE & FOLLOW my You Tube channel, for notification about upcoming episodes, most Tuesdays @12:30pm!



#HWC2021 – The Video Collection!
We had a grand old time at the Home Winemakers Classic in support of Mt Veeder Fire Safe Council! For details and photos check out my previous post, but scroll down here for two of my spectacular winemaker interviews, featured on The Varietal Show, and a replay of the entire HWC event from July 17th!

You can also watch my Instragram interviews (@sawyersommelier) with Shari Staglin: Staglin Family Vineyard, Steve Sando: Rancho Gordo Beans, Angelina Mondavi: Dark Matter Wines & Walter Hamlin: Oakville Wine Merchant!







